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Help!

I am 40 in March and as well as doing loads of things to celebrate it I decided in an act of stupidity at the start of the year to enter the New York Marathon in November!

Well today i got the letter to say i've been accepted!!!!

So; i have 9 months (to the day) to train for it. My fitness levels aren't exactly up to much, although i do eat quite healthily so i am taking that as a positive.

Anyone run a marathon before and any useful tips (apart from training hard) would be very welcome?

(I am running it for Children for Lukemia as I knew someone who died from this so that's what made me enter it so i could raise some money in memory of them).

Never run a marathon Bedford, but make sure you set up an online sponsor thingy, I'd like to contribute.

Thanks; that is very kind; i will sort that out when i get more info from the charity.

yeah post it on here mate, I am sure there are lots of people who will contribute.

My mate did the Luxembourg version in May last year, roasting hot and he did it in full Scottish gear, kilt, sporran and all the other gubbins you get. He vowed never to do it again!

I ran the New York City Marathon in 2002 for Children Nationwide and finally got around to running in London last year for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  Congratulations on your place...you're going to have one of the best weekends of your life.  The crowds in New York (and in London, for that matter) are phenomenal...especially from the 16 mile point when you cross in to Manhattan for the first time.  And the finish in Central Park is special.

Take your training steadily.  Nine months will be easily enough time to get yourself match fit as long as you're sensible and don't take risks with your training.  Avoid injury at all costs!  And good luck!

I will not be running in anything other than normal running gear; i've already decided that; it's going to be hard enough without any hinderences!

I am quite excited about it; two of my friends have already said they are going to come out and watch and give me some support which will be cool.

I bet the crowds are phenomenal; thanks for the good luck  :D

Not even a TEF shirt designed by Ben or anything?  Come on!!

I did think about Swindon Town based shirts; but the charity have specially designed Mr Men t-shirts you have to wear (i think it's Mr Happy) so i will have to wear that on the day.

Otherwise i would!

Haven't been able to run the length of a marathon since they changed the name to snickers.
























































Sorry.

Started training a few years ago from 0 fitness. Got up to 8 miles before the rejection letter came. Then I gave up (was going to do a 1/2  marathon but my motivation evaporated).

There are a lot of training plans and advice available online, have a look around, I'm sure that Flora do one for the London Marathon, amongst others. Obviously the idea is to start with not much and build it up over time, not doing too much to quickly.

The training I followed was different kind of running in the week , interval running, hill running, etc - designed to increase strength, stamina and cardio vascular efficiency  On the weekend was the 'long' run, a slower paced run as per the title really.

Two things though - 1 - It soaks up a lot of time.  2. It would be easier to motivate yourself with a running partner.  It's too easy to make excuses on these cold mornings if it's just you!

Good luck. Let us know when you start looking for sponsorship.

One thing you will notice is that there isn't the same marathon/charity thing going on in the US that we have here.  Run in London, and everyone is wearing a charity shirt ('Running in memory of my Mum' etc), which I found very moving at times.  In New York, though, everyone seems to want to let you know where they're from.  'I'm Billy Bob from Dallas, TX' etc).

I'm sure you could customise your shirt with an STFC theme if you wanted.

i did the first swindon walkathon if that counts?

 I've walked a marathon....as well,  took me about 8 hours, but did stop for lunch.....ddin't really need too much training just a couple of longish walks the 2 weekends preceding.

I'm running in this years London Marathon.  It's my first marathon (and last).

It's the second lifelong ambition i've attempted.  The first one was to go to evey Town game home and away for a season, which I did in 04/05.

The only advice I have to give based on the training I've done so far, is prepare yourself mentally.

Going out on cold dark nights to run on your own for two hours is very hard to do.

Best of luck in New York, sounds great and it's going to be a great feeling to cross that finish line!
 :beers:

i ran a half marathon if that counts. Dave's top tips for running

- buy some comfy trainers. Don't wanna fuck up your ankles
- Find Someone to run with. Really helps you stay motivated, can't jsut give up as easily
- Listen to music. Running is boring
- Dont Get bogged down when you running, especially on hills. Just remind yourself that you have to run down the same gradient after yourself
- Sing to yourself. Doesn't have to be out loud, but singing uner your breat (i found) helps me keep a sort of rythm and regulate my breathing. You can even have different songs for different bits of running. For example, on hills i would sing 'hero' by enrique iglesias. Fuck knows why, but it helps.

Do that and you cant fail. Good luck bedford

 :ha: gay

meh, it worked.

I'm with Mint on this one. Dave you're a big homosexual of the gayest kind.

That may well be. Its not as if i was singing at the top of my voice though. that would be sad

It doesn't matter. Your soul is still tarnished. You may go to music hell.

*insert humorous reply here*

Good point, probably a good idea to get some specialist advice if you can (in a shop like Sweatshop rather than JJB :)). They can analyse your running style to see if you a nuteral runner or need more of a controlling trainer. The disadvantage is are more expensive than the chain..

Thanks for all the advice.

I am pretty good at motivating myself; and i do have good will-power but i am going to try and find a running partner which will be a bonus. Having the acceptance letter is definately the biggest motivator at the moment.

I've got an i-pod, that will be going with me everywhere. And I am definately going to get some proper advice re trainers etc, i'm not going to mess it up by not having the proper gear.

They are sending me a training pack in the post; but i'm going to ask for advice as well.

And re the shirt; i will definately modify it nearer the time with a STFC theme.

Thanks again for all the tips; 9 months and counting!!

Bedford, when you sign up to a sponsor thing post teh link and will chiuck in some pennies

You're pregnant as well?!  :)

Good luck with this. Will contribute when you setup online sponsorship.

I would suggest that as part of your training you run some 10k or half marathon events as it beats running on your own or with a mate and you get some experience of running in these kind of events.  I have run a couple of great south runs (10 miles) and its amazing how much further you manage to go with the added adrenalin

Thanks for the offer of sponsoring people; i will definately post the link once it's up and running.

And thanks fjortoft; I was thinking about doing that last night, it would definately be good training and also like you said it's good experience too.

RobT wants to say (but keeps getting critical errors):

I know quite a few seasoned Marathon runners so I'll get some tips. From what I remember the best advice is to get decent gear to run in, build up gradually adding a mile or so to your long run over the weeks and I don't think any of them run Marathon length in the build-up, ever. They stick to a climax of about 22 miles and that is several weeks before the event followed by a cooling off towards the actual day.

It's great fun to watch, I followed someone around the London Marathon before. Just after 22/23 miles you'll hit the wall, it really does seem to happen to the vast majority at this point. My mate looked fine one minute and then 2 miles later looked half dead.

Finally, get used to pissing yourself! The water intake required has to go somewhere I suppose and you won't fancy stopping 17 miles in.

Thanks; i just saw that on Loud and Proud.

Good luck chief

Just a couple of mine to add…

Join a running club there are plenty out there of all abilities and it gives you a bit of motivation and company for those dark nights when it’s pissing it down and the temptation is to stay in.

Aside from that  work out a route you know the distance of and work your way up on distance and pace.  I tend to run a 1.5 or 3 mile circuit and vary the laps each night starting on a one lap Monday (post hangover) and a quick sprint once round on a Friday.  Record the times so you can see your progress and it’ll give you something to race against when you’re on your own.

Half marathon is definitely a good build up.

Cheers Dazzza

I've entered the Great North Run; i will hear next week if i've got into that. If not; i am definately going to do at least one half marathon beforehand for practise/experience etc.

Try some local 10k races, good way to get the fitness up before a marathon.